Slain Japanese Journalist's Poignant Message: 'Hate Is Not for Humans'

A years-old tweet by Kenji Goto is drawing new attention following his death.

ByABC News
February 3, 2015, 7:04 AM
Japanese journalist Kenji Goto is seen in this April 25, 2014 file photo.
Japanese journalist Kenji Goto is seen in this April 25, 2014 file photo.
Ahmed Muhammed Ali/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

— -- A years-old message of tolerance and understanding by Japanese journalist Kenji Goto is drawing new attention, days after he was beheaded by ISIS.

On September 7, 2010 Goto tweeted in Japanese, "Closing my eyes and holding still. It's the end if I get mad or scream. It's close to a prayer. Hate is not for humans. Judgment lies with God. That's what I learned from my Arabic brothers and sisters."

The Islamic State group released a video Sunday purporting to show the beheading of Goto, and since then his poignant tweet has been retweeted more than 30,000 times.

According to the Associated Press, the account was verified as Goto's by his friend Toshi Maeda, who heads Tokyo-based venture Pacific Bridge. Goto's most recent tweet is dated October 23, 2014, before he last went into Syria.